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BENDIGO Spirit development player Jess Rennie is remaining upbeat despite a season-ending knee injury.
The teenager suffered a torn ACL and MCL during the recent Australian School Championships in Melbourne and faces at least 12 months on the sidelines.
She will undergo surgery in Melbourne on Thursday.
“I was going for a rebound and someone came from behind me and bumped me and my knee buckled,” she said.
The injury is expected to sideline Rennie for the entire 2018 SEABL season with Bendigo Lady Braves and likely the bulk of next season with the Spirit.
“It’s really disappointing and has set me back a bit, but there is not much I can do about it,” she said.
“I did it doing what I love, playing basketball. You can’t prepare for these things.
“It’s becoming so much more common these days. Nat Novosel (Adelaide Lightning) has just done hers and Sara Blicavs did hers, but is trying to turn it into a positive.
“I just need to do my rehab properly and I should be back fine.”
Rennie enjoyed a fruitful SEABL campaign in 2017 – her second in the league – averaging 6.2 points and 1.3 rebounds for a Lady Braves team, which clinched the east conference championship and fell a few points shy of a national championship against Geelong Supercats.
“Looking ahead to SEABL, I was really excited, especially with the group we are going to have and coming off last season,” she said.
Despite a disappointing season team-wise for the Spirit, Rennie could only take positives from her stint as a WNBL development player.
“Especially my driving game, which is something I’ve needed to work on,” she said.
“If this injury hadn’t happened I probably would have been getting a bit more court time.
“The first (WNBL) game I played I loved it. It’s a different intensity.
“It hasn’t been the best season for the team, but it’s been good for the younger players getting a go and showing what they can do.
“Coming out and see Ahlise score 15 points a week ago was awesome.”
